Likely breast cancer after ultrasound

[spartanrunnergirl]

Hi all after routine mammogram I was referred for an ultrasound, which I had today and the radiologist said it's likely a cancer, thus did a few core biopsies. I did not know that cancer could be detected at ultrasound stage but she was pretty certain it was cancer and said the biopsies were to see what they were dealing with. Has anyone else had this? Thank you

You could try taking a couple of paracetamol before you go. That did help me. Once you're frozen it's fine I found. What was weird is that it was about 80 outside and I was sat there in a blanket and woolly socks because it does make you cold doesn't it? I hear you about the kids, my son was only 8 and I'm a lone parent so was desperate to just be "normal". It's hard on them isn't it? It'll be ok, one step at a time!

@Daisy03 also I was told not to wash my hair on the day of treatment so I'd have this hideous mess covered in conditioner and I'd leave it a day or two and then do a really gentle wash. Thank the Lord it was lockdown and nobody had to see it. I looked hideous 😆

I think it really depends on what chemo you're having. The stuff I had was "gentle" I was told. I remember my mum having the most horrendous side effects from chemo 20 odd years ago (different cancer) and she was wiped. The BCN told me that exercise can mitigate a lot of the side effects. As it was lockdown and it was my chance to go "out out", I decided walking was the best thing. I swear it made a huge difference. My advice would be do what you can. Even if it's 10 mins a day. It may help you cope with the side effects. Otherwise, don't sweat it, it's temporary. You will have time to get back to an exercise routine when you're feeling better

@TheFormidableMrsC light beanies are my friend, thank goodness it’s coming into winter, I think it’s 3 months after till I can get my roots done also but I can see myself pushing that earlier if I’m ok condition

I'm nearly 5 years on from having the news that I had breast cancer. I was feeling healthy and happy at 56 with the menopause behind me and then wham I've breast cancer. I had a mastectomy, out of hospital the same day, no pain killers as I wasn't in pain. I allowed myself two days of pj's days then I was up showered, lippy on and getting on with life 😊it doesn't have to be a death sentence and it certainly makes you realise what's important and what isn't. Visualise your inner warrior and keep as positive as you can. I wish you well going forward, nobody wants to be in this club but it does make you step back and take a good look at your life.

THIS is exactly what I needed to read when opening the thread tonight. Thank you. @1983Louise

I have had a sobbing messy sad time today and one of those waves of distress about this bullshit fuckery. I spoke to the cancer nurse for an update on my biopsy results- nothing significant but I couldn't get the certainty of treatment I crave. They won't know if I'll need chemo or not etc.. I realised I can only do one step at a time and to trust the process.

Deep breath, and onward xx

Inner zen as well as inner warrior for now, @spartanrunnergirl…you’ve got this. And I reckon the occasional messy sad sobbing evening is entirely par for the course. Please be kind to yourself.

No idea on timings, they reckoned a week or so. Trying my damndest not to get into my head on it at all - I’ve only told you, my DH and teen DDs (super light touch), & my two best gym gfs who are both exactly my age and, weirdly, have both just been through the exact same thing wrt lumps / biopsies etc. I keep telling myself this is all entirely normal, nothing to get worked up about. it’s nearly working. Back in the gym tomorrow morning. Cannot wait! Thank you for your kindness - I really appreciate it.

The waiting for results is the worst of times. Once your BCN and consultant know the full results you will get your plan and next steps. The waiting is excruciating, believe me. Keep busy, I worked and for the times I was working it was like it wasn’t happening. The nights were the worst. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stay off Google. It’s outdated, mostly American and will scare you so much. My biggest regret was Google. Just use UK sites like McMillan etc. Good luck 🤞

It really does depend on the drugs you're having, and for how long. I'm a month into a five month stretch - from what I've heard, it's cumulative. I do walk every day, apart from the days I feel like I have the worst case of flu. I'd give anything to be on a 'gentle' regime!

It's quite ... difficult ... to read people saying 'oh I just had to keep exercising/retain my hair' for whatever reason, like those of us who feel ill and lose hair during treatment just aren't trying or something. No one knows how it will affect them, all you can do is get through it .

I'm 3 days post a double mastectomy. Still reeling from the shock of the whole experience. Every time someone in hospital is kind I burst into floods of tears. I will find out next what the exact pathology is and what we do from here.

@BatshitCrazyWoman I truly hope I haven't made you feel like that. My intention was to the OP as we had almost identical diagnosis so I felt that my experiences might be useful for her as our treatment plans would largely align.

I'm so very aware of how different it is for everybody. I've had so many friends have BC and several who are not in a curative position and have to live with the harshest of treatments and I have seen how bloody tough that is. I am extremely grateful that I got through it without too much discomfort. I was very fortunate. I share my story to offer hope to others in a similar position.

You've got a long road ahead and all you can do is whatever gets you through to the other side. You will get there. Keep on keeping on and I hope that the rest of your treatment runs smoothly

@StartupRepair what a shock, I think I saw your posts in the run up to your operation on another thread. It has all happened so suddenly for you, you must been reeling and I am wishing you love xxx

@TheFormidableMrsC thank you, your comments about exercise are really helpful for me and give me hope that I can get through this actively.

@BatshitCrazyWoman I too am sorry if parts of the thread are difficult for you that's not intentional at all, x.

I think I'm probably a bit prickly about it. Like I'm 'not doing cancer right' or that it's really just a matter of will and determination to be able to carry on 'not looking like a cancer patient '. Sticks in my craw a bit, I won't lie. All the will, determination and cold capping in the world won't keep your hair on your head if it's going to fall out 🤷‍♀️ It's hard to read this stuff 😞

I had my third chemo yesterday, and saw my oncologist, who said he was impressed at how I (and my body) are coping, so that's something for an oldie like me (I'm 60).. One more treatment with the Red Devil and I'm hopefully onto the calmer waters of paclitaxel. Then surgery. Then radiotherapy.

OP I wish you all the best with your treatment. I hope it's as gentle on you as possible

Thank you @BatshitCrazyWoman wishing you all the best for your last chemo and beyond.

I hear you on the being prickly... I feel it too on lots of things .. phrases people say to me : this will be the 'making of you' that I'm 'lucky' it's breast cancer, that I'm 'brave', that I'll 'kick its butt!'

I'm gonna make a cancer bingo card! At work I'm silently going bingo! for every time I get one of the above..

I know too I said all that stuff to people before cancer ( now known as BC) 🙃

I did have a cathartic moment the other day at work with my (lovely) boss and peers wanting to know what was needed to cover me while I'm off and going on about various scenarios blah blah, then they started asking me what I thought and I just said "I don't care" ... and I didn't, and I realised most of the stuff going on at work and in my life I don't need to worry about, cancer or not. So maybe it is transformative 😆

I hate being called brave. I'm not brave, I'm just not stupid enough to ignore what the doctor advises 😂

@spartanrunnergirl yep I hear you with all of that. I'm kind of grateful that I was a lockdown cancer patient as I largely managed to avoid "meant well" comments. Those around me didn't placate, they just "did" and that was far better for a stubborn bugger like me!

@BatshitCrazyWoman there is no doing cancer "well" or "better". When I was diagnosed and I posted here, I was desperate for anybody to tell me it would be ok because I was an old mum with a very young primary aged (disabled) child who'd have been an orphan if I died so I was desperate to hear positive survivor stories. Now that I am a few years down the line, I want to offer that same reassurance to others. It's not being "oh look at how well I did", it's more "I got through it, I have survived thus far". I want to offer what helped me and what worked for me. I know it won't be the same for everybody. I am sad if I ever made anybody feel inadequate or that they're somehow not doing things properly as that was the absolute opposite of my intention. What I will say is that I had Paclitaxel and not the additional horrors that you have had. I truly hope that you find that much easier to manage and you feel much more "you" going forward. Be assured that my intentions were good but I will be more mindful going forward. I live with a background of fear that will likely be permanent so I don't want to sound smug because I'm really not. Keep posting here, it's good for everybody and a learning curve too. 🎀

I had breast cancer end of 2023/start of this year.

I had a tiny tumour but it was a kind that really pumped out fluid so I had a large lump which everyone thought was a cyst but the biopsy showed otherwise. I had a lumpectomy last November and then 10 sessions of radiotherapy in Jan/Feb. Very glad to have avoided chemo and it was hormone negative so no blockers.

I had my first follow up mammogram last Tuesday (will have them for 10 years they said) but no results as yet.

It's not a nice club to join but you meet so many fantastic people. It was almost all women who treated me (apart from the anaesthetist for my op) and it actually felt weirdly empowering, women looking after each other, supporting each other.

I hope you get a good result and your treatment, whatever it involves, goes well. I'll be thinking of you x

Hi @weegiemum thanks for sharing your experience. I hope you get your mamo results soon I imagine after BC treatment it could be an anxious wait. Xx

Good luck for your mammogram results @weegiemum

@TheFormidableMrsC I apologise, I think the whirlwind of my diagnosis and treatment has made me very touchy about everything. We are all on different treatment plans, and all we can do is get through. I'm older, and have a disabled adult DC, so I do understand how you must have felt (and I remember your divorce story, while I was going through mine )

Just a few days in and I am starting to discover the range of responses out there. The dear friend who appeared and quietly handed over to dh a weeks worth of home cooked meals. The colleague who is too curious about my pathology results. The friend who keeps sending me long emails with updates on her life.

@StartupRepair you’re spot on there. You really find out who the solid ones are. I’ve made sure to communicate to a couple of people what I need - eg someone who I thought was a close friend gave radio silence. I told her that what I need is for her to call by for a few minutes when she’s in the area, or if I’m quiet it’s not likely to be good - which is when I need cat memes and not space.

I hope you’re getting more comfy after your op. I had a single mastectomy 3 weeks ago and had trouble with my drain, lots of sleep issues etc. I needed help washing so I imagine you too are needing a lot of support at home with everything. I’m just starting to get out and about more now I’m not toting a drain bag everywhere. As it’s cold I’ve started to wear a very covering hat - this might help people to get used to seeing me in a head covering once my hair comes out during chemo. I’ve bought a couple ahead of that - whilst I’m hoping cold capping will save it I’m not so sure I’ll be that fortunate.

God bless the meal providers! Keeping fingers crossed for your histology results.

@BatshitCrazyWoman Don't you dare apologise! You've got nothing to apologise for! You are absolutely entitled to feel how you feel. I completely get that. We are clearly kindred spirits with our kids and difficulties in our lives. I can't believe you remember my hideous divorce threads. I have to say, I am certain that all of that contributed to my diagnosis. When my threads finished, I had a further 5 years of hell from them and the relentless stress meant my body broke down. Everything went wrong and then I got cancer. It's not a coincidence. The only positive of that was OW was so incensed that I had cancer and had asked my child's father to have him while I had surgery that she gave him a choice between her or our son. He chose her of course. We've not seen him since. She bought a house in Scotland and son and I are in Herts and that was that. I've never been more relieved to be honest. Anyway, there's a little update you didn't ask for! I hope you'll keep posting and that the next lot of chemo is kinder to you!

@weegiemum Good luck with your mammo results. The first one is the worst but far. I feel very nervous for my next one in March as it's 5 years and will be my last annual one. I refuse to believe that any of us will be anything but fine. Keep on keeping on 💪